The Church of England has formally dismissed a complaint concerning the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, and her handling of a historical abuse allegation. The decision clears a procedural hurdle for Bishop Mullally, who is scheduled to succeed Justin Welby on 28 January.
Review Finds No Grounds for Action
The complaint was reviewed by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who determined that no further action should be taken. The complaint, known as a Church Disciplinary Measure (CDM), was originally filed in 2020 and related to Bishop Mullally's conduct while serving as Bishop of London.
The complainant, referred to as Survivor N, alleged that abuse began in 2014 and was reported to the Diocese of London. He further claimed that after making a formal complaint in 2019, Bishop Mullally breached confidentiality by sending an email about the allegation to the priest involved. Survivor N has stated that the diocese's handling of his case left him feeling suicidal.
Criticism and Calls for a Pause
The decision has been met with significant criticism from within the church. Critics argue that it fails to address deeper issues of trust and accountability in the Church of England's safeguarding processes. The appointment of Archbishop Cottrell to review the case was itself contentious, as he faced calls to resign last year over his handling of a separate safeguarding matter.
Robert Thompson, an Anglican vicar and General Synod member, has called for a pause on Bishop Mullally's installation. In a statement, he said the dismissal "does not close the trust deficit" and reinforces perceptions that senior leaders are insulated from meaningful, independent scrutiny.
Institutional Response and Next Steps
Officials at Lambeth Palace acknowledged that the 2020 complaint was not properly followed up due to "administrative errors and an incorrect assumption about the individual’s wishes". The Diocese of London maintains that proper processes were followed and that there is no outstanding complaint against Bishop Mullally.
Under church rules, Survivor N has 14 days to appeal the decision and request an independent review by the president of tribunals. This leaves open the possibility of further procedural challenges even as the church prepares for the leadership transition at the end of January.
